‘We believe is happening behind the scenes...’ - Expert shares Sheffield Wednesday 'reality' as EFL stop deals
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Credit: Imago / Sheffield Wednesday via YouTube
Ben Palmer
Fri 29 August 2025 17:18, UK
Sheffield Wednesday may no longer be under embargo but “behind the scenes” problems are making it near-impossible to sign new players.
That is according to football finance expert Dan Plumley, who explained to Football Insider exclusively that whilst there have been players training with the club, the Owls still need the EFL’s approval on new signings.
Dejphon Chansiri‘s mismanagement of one of England’s most historic clubs has led to a mass exodus this summer and concerns about the Yorkshire side’s long-term future.
Danny Rohl left Sheffield Wednesday less than a fortnight before the season began, and the Owls have had to deal with the departure of 13 first-team players, including last season’s top goal-scorer Josh Windass, who joined Wrexham after cancelling his contract at Hillsborough.
The EFL provided a reprieve by lifting the transfer embargo on the club, but Henrik Pedersen’s side is still struggling to get new players in the door.
Credit: Sheffield Wednesday
This article contains exclusive comment from Dan Plumley, a football finance expert and senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University.
Speaking to Football Insider exclusively, Plumley explained why Sheffield Wednesday were still struggling to sign players, despite no longer being under a transfer embargo.
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The Owls are still required to prove that they can pay new players, and have had free agents training with the club in preparation for joining.
Ethan Horvath is the only new signing Pedersen’s side have made this summer, with the USA international joining on loan till January after Pierce Charles underwent surgery on a shoulder injury.
Plumley explained: “That’s exactly what we believe is happening behind the scenes.
There are players training with the club that are out of contract, or are free agents anyway.
Credit: Imago
“There’s players that they’ve been talking to, there’s provisional deals that have been looked at, but they cannot ratify any of those transfers until they can pay the wages and have assurances that the players will get paid.
“It’s really tricky because the embargo’s lifted and it looks like a really positive piece of news, but the reality is it’s still not allowing them to bring any players in, because the wage bill’s still giving no assurance that it can be satisfied next time around.
“That makes it really tricky for the players and the management behind the scenes, because that squad is already pretty thin on the ground, and without any new bodies in, you’re really up against it, and it’s gonna be a real slog of a season.”
Without the ability to sign new players, the need to keep hold of the few remaining stars on their books has ramped up for the Owls.
Pierce Charles was the subject of bids from Rangers and West Ham, but Wednesday chose not to respond to those offers.
Credit: Imago
However, in a cruel twist of fate, the talented Northern Ireland international will be out for an extended period thanks to his shoulder injury.
Horvath stepped up as his replacement in Wednesday’s penalty shootout victory over Leeds United in the Carabao Cup, and will need to replicate those performances going forward if Pedersen’s side are to have any chance of avoiding relegation from the Championship this season.